A NORTH Wales surgeon has been paid more than #100,000 to sit at home and do nothing.

Eye consultant Kalyan Chawla was suspended on full pay in July 2002 after the NHS's anti-fraud department began investigating complaints against him.

Angry politicians last night demanded to know why the inquiry was taking so long.

Mr Chawla's full salary - thought to be around #70,000-a-year - is being paid by North East Wales NHS Trust.

The trust is also having to pay for a locum to cover Mr Chawla's case load.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas, who has previously raised the issue with the trust, said last night he would be questioning health chiefs further.

"I would be concerned at the amount of time this is taking because of the effect on the public purse and I will certainly be making my own inquiries," he said.

Wrexham AM Dr John Marek also plans to raise the consultant's suspension at a meeting he will have early next month with the hospital's chief executive, Hilary Peplar.

One complaint centres on whether 84-year-old former soldier Raymond Warburton should have been treated on the NHS, rather than pay #4,000 for private treatment.

His daughter, Kathleen Roberts, 54, of Summerhill, Wrexham, has asked Dr Marek to push for an end to the delays.

Dr Marek said: "Clearly it is unsatisfactory for the public purse if he is suspended on full pay and it is coming into the second year of an investigation.

"There is public money involved and I will want to discuss this at my meting with the chief executive. I don't want to get involved in the details but I will be seeking assurances that this case will be brought to a conclusion as swiftly as possible."

NHS Counter Fraud Services headquarters in London yesterday said their investigation was "still ongoing".

A spokesman said they were unable to say when it would end, though the department's investigator told the Daily Post it was "nearing completion".

Wrexham Maelor Hospital is carrying out its own investigation into alleged misconduct by Mr Chawla.

The surgeon, of Prescot, Merseyside, started work at the hospital in 1995.